Intro to Granada Nicaragua's finest colonial town, Granada has the trim churches, the fine palm-covered plaza, and the colorful architecture you might expect of a city founded in the 16th century. But the old village nesled on the edge of teh lake has more to offer than just its pretty facade. Behind its carved wooden doors in beautifully restored courtyards you'll find some of the best eating and drinking spots in the country. Take an early morning stroll through town as shopkeepers are just opening their doors, or [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Leon Watch a storm erupt over the cathedral in the plaza, with lightning illuminating the leonine statues guarding the entrance, and you're liable to think you are in an enchanted city. Many of Leon's proud residents would hardly disagree. They are the ones who work and live among the town's cobbled streets, tiny parks and neighborhood churches, and many of them can tell you more than the country's former capital than you'd ever learn visiting the many historic sites here. There is much to discover in Leon, and [View Full Entry]

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Bienvenido a Nicaragua Nicaragua's days of armed conflict are long over. Many travelers are surprised to learn that the largest country in Central America is also one of the safest. But size and security have little to do with Nicaragua's many charms. Colonial cities, mountain villages, pristine islands and jungle hamlets form the backdrop to Nicaragua's natural and cultural wonders. These riches can be experienced in many forms, from kayaking the smooth surface of Central America's largest lake to soaking up rays on a deserted [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, is a busy, noisy, city nestled in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded by a ring of mountains. At an altitude of 975 meters, it has a fresh and pleasant climate, much cooler than the coasts. The surrounding mountainous region is covered in pine trees. The name Tegucigalpa (Teh-goos-ee-GAL-pa) is a bit of a mouth full; Hondurans often call the city Tegus (TEH-goos) for short. The name, meaning "silver hall" in the original local Nahuatl dialect, was bestowed when the Spanish [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Gracias Gracias is a small, attractive mountain town 47 kilometers southeast of Santa Rosa de Copan. A colonial Spanish town, it still retains its Spanish character, with cobblestone streets and colonial churches and buildings. Gracias is quiet, slow and peaceful, and it feels like it hasn't changed in centuries. Gracias was founded in 1526 by Spanish Captain Juan de Chavez; its original name was Gracias a Dios (Thanks to God). The Audiencia de los Confines, the governing council for all of Central America, w [View Full Entry]

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Bienvenido a Honduras With a cool, mountainous interior and a long, warm Caribbean coastline, Honduras is the second largest of the Central American countries. Travel is easy, enjoyable and inexpensive. Among the better-known Honduran attractions are the spectacular Mayan ruins at Copan near the Guatemalan border, with its pyramids, temples and intricately carved stelae (standing stone monuments). La Tigra National Park, just a few kilometers from Tegucigalpa , the capital, is a lush, cool cloud forest. Several other cloud forest [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Suchitoto Suchitoto, 47km north of San Salvador, is a great little town with colonial buildings and cobblestone streets. A cultural capital during the heyday of the indigo trade, it is now experiencing something of an arts revival. Suchitoto overlooks the Embalse Cerron Grande, also known as Lago Suchitlan, a reservior for hydroelectric power made by damming the Rio Lempa. The project displaced thousands of farmers from the fertile banks of the Rio Lempa, many of who became fisherman. A pretty trail leads to the lake, where boat trips are possible. The area is also a b [View Full Entry]

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Update The map we've posted detailing our route through El Salvador isn't 100% correct. Like I always said, our plans are "subject to change." Since we spent an extra night in Guatemala, we more/less decided to make a B-line for San Salvador and then head north (bypassing some of Western Guatemala). So, the route line is correct... we just didn't stop (or make that funny circle) in Western El Salvador. Anyways... I suppose I am being a bit too detail oriented. Enjoy the blog entry! Bienvenido a El Salvador The landscape remains the most turbulent aspect of [url=htt [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Panajachel Nicknamed Gringotenango (place of the foreigners) by locals and foreigners alike, Pana is one of Guatemala's oldest tourist hangouts. In the 1960s and 70s, it was crowded with laid-back travelers in semipermanent exile. When the civil war made it dangerous in the late 70s and 80s, many moved on. But he town's tourist industry is booming again and has spread to lakeside villages. Several different cultures mingle on Panajachel's dusty streets. Ladinos and gringos control the tourist industry. The Cakchiquel and Tz'utuhil Maya from surrounding villages come to [View Full Entry]

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Intro to Xela Amost everyone calls Quetzaltenango by its Quiche Maya name: Xelaju, or simply Xela (pronounced Shay-la). Not as insane as the capital city, and not as gringofied as Antigua, Xela sits somewhere in the middle, and is many travelers' favorite Guatemalan city. The commercial center of southwestern Guatemala, it's Guatemala's second-largest city and the center of the Quiche Maya people. Towering over the city to the south is the 3772m Volcan Santa Maria, with the active 2488m Volcan Saniaguito on its southwestern flank. Xela's good selection of hotels makes an excell [View Full Entry]

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